The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-06-21
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. ROBERTSON.


At the meeting of the State Board of Equal
ization on yesterday Acknowledgements
Robertson was present and presided. Cover
nor Gray was also present and filed protest
and made great Democratic kick against
Governor Robertson acting as a member and
president of the board The protest and kick
were promptly laid upon the table, and the
board proceeded to business. Governor Gray,
like most Democratic officials, has a very
short memory and consistency whatever.
Last year Governor Gray called upon the
Democratic Attorney general to give an Off
cial opinion as to the existence of a vacancy
in the Office Of Acknowledgements. The
Democratic Attorney general, in an able and
exhaustive opinion, held that vacancy did
exist, and that the people should elect
Lieutenant-governor at their next, now last,
November election. The Governor, the Dem
ocratic convention, and all the voters of the
State acted in good faith on that opinion,
and voted for persons to ELL the
vacancy. Governor Gray will not deny that
he voted for Judge Nelson for that office.
But, then, Judge Nelson did not get votes
enough, and Colonel Robertson beat him and
was elected. The people decided that Robert
son elected the present Attorney general
has SO decided. and in SO far as the question
could be decided in the cases bearing on the
subject before it, the Supreme Court of the
State has SO decided. But Governor Gray
NO nat ha ho ali al aforl acf
winter because the Democrats did not elect a
Lieutenant governor who could have sue
ceeded him, must needs follow Pea Green
Smith, Tomtit Bailey and the Sim Coy
junta of Democratic politicians in protesting
against Governor Robertsons election. Does
anybody suppose that Governor Gray would
have protested had Judge Nelson been elected
and if he had secured his party nomination
for the United States Senate2 Not much.
Green Smith did not put in an appearance.
He and his supporters now say he never
claimed to be Lieutenant governor, and that
his mission was accomplished when he filled
out his term as President of the Senate.
This is convenient afterthought of the
kL1iAtA gang. ANo 0oCpt WIG ICd1 ODJcCL Ol LIS
usurpation last winter was to prevent Lieu
tenant-governor Robertson from presiding
over the Senate, and that being accomplished
they had little further interest. The whole
fight was made against Robertson as Leuten-
antgovernor, for, if legally elected to that
office, he was President of the Senate, and by
admitting his election now they admit they
were usurpers then. There has meyer been
any doubt as to the legality of Robertsons
election. The racket was all raised for politi-
cal effect, and the purpose of the hour being
served, the opposition skunk out of sight. If
there had been any honesty consistency in
the Democratic position of last winter, they
would have opposed Colonel Robertson's rec
ignition as Lieutenant governor the Board
of Equalization by legal measures. Their
failure to do so shows they know they have
no case, and never did have. They stand
before the public self confessed conspirators
and usurpers. BY the way, perhaps Green
Smith will now return the two dollars which
be drew illegally as Lieutenant governors
salary.